WILLIAMSBURG — Hundreds of small American flags are placed at gravestones in five town cemeteries before Memorial Day to recognize military personnel who died in service to the United States.
In the process of providing fresh Stars and Stripes for these burial grounds, weathered, torn and faded flags are brought back to the American Legion Post 236 in Haydenville, where they are stripped from their wooden poles so they can be properly retired.
Along with flags that have flown at municipal buildings and others provided by people who have displayed them at their homes, a ceremony held over the weekend, timed to the commemoration of Flag Day on Monday, ensured a dignified disposal for them.
“This is a very special and solemn ceremony, and an important responsibility,” says Mark Frost, senior vice commander of Post 236.
With between 3,000 and 4,000 flags, mostly the small commemorative flags but others the conventional size of 3 feet by 5 feet, a handful of Post 236 members gathered to place the collected flags in three 55-gallon burning barrels.
Frost explained that the ceremony is prescribed with a sergeant of arms inspecting the flags to make sure the flags are unserviceable, The second vice commander and first commander then perform a similar inspection before giving the go-ahead for the retirement to proceed. The commander’s speech and chaplain’s prayer is followed by a salute before they are lit on fire.
“This year we have quite a few,” Frost said, observing that flags from St. Mary’s Cemetery in Northampton were given to his Legion to handle.
After the burning, which Frost said usually leaves little in the way of ashes due to the flag’s cotton and nylon blend composition, the byproducts are then properly packed up for burial.
Frost said the public should understand that it only takes about 15 to 20 minutes to carry out the procedure, which is outlined by the U.S. flag code. While less public than other events for active service members and veterans, the disposal is important.
“All military personnel have a lot of respect for the flag,” Frost said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
